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Circular supply chains support a robust and competitive manufacturing sector while providing economy-wide environmental benefits. However, realizing these economic and environmental benefits will only be possible through development and commercialization of new technologies and processes that will increase reuse, repair, recycling, remanufacturing, and repurposing of products and materials.
"Developing circular supply chains for rapidly growing material streams and those with high-impact potential, such as critical materials, is the key to successfully transforming our linear economy into a more sustainable one," said Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) Director Chris Saldaña. "The Circular Supply Chains Accelerator team will be instrumental to this transformation."
In October 2024, AMMTO published the EERE Circularity for Secure and Sustainable Products and Materials: A Draft Strategic Framework, along with a request for information. The report highlighted that efforts to accelerate the deployment of circular supply chain innovations cannot be successful without:
- A comprehensive understanding of the landscape of technical and non-technical factors that may impact the adoption of emerging technologies; and
- Strong stakeholder networks to accelerate innovations from R&D-scale to commercial practice.
To address these needs, this NOFO seeks to establish a multi-year effort that will assemble a team to conduct analysis, connect broad groups of stakeholders within multiple application spaces, and socialize EERE-developed innovations across a variety of industries to advance those innovations. Throughout their analyses and stakeholder engagement activities, the selected team will work with circularity initiatives sponsored by EERE, DOE, and the broader U.S. government to identify potential shared challenges and opportunities to advance innovation.
For example, programs that advance circularity for batteries (ReCell), electrolyzers (H2CIRC), Critical Materials (CMI Hub), and composites (IACMI and the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize) may have common challenges that are ripe for collaboration, and connecting stakeholders across these efforts would accelerate technology development and lower the cost of innovation.
The anticipated project duration is three to five years.
DOE encourages potential applicants to consider creating or joining a team to establish this project. Join the Teaming Partner List on EERE eXCHANGE to express interest in joining a team to bid on this funding. The list will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization's information.
Prior to submitting a full application for this opportunity, a concept paper is due on March 31, 2025, at 5 pm EST.
Learn more about this funding opportunity and apply on EERE eXCHANGE.
Funding for this NOFO is subject to future Congressional appropriations.
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